The Car Connection Expert Review

Likes

Light and nimble

Compact and maneuverable

Affordable, high value

Comfortable ride

Dislikes

More limited model range

Confounding dual-screen infotainment

No more manual transmission

Buying tip

You no longer have to step up to top-trim models in order to get the best active-safety features. You can add the AcuraWatch Plus Package to the base trim, for a vehicle that has features such as (auto-steering) lane-keep assist and totals just $30,120.

features & specs

The 2016 Acura ILX has a sportier focus than other entry-luxury sedans, without sacrificing comfort and refinement.

Until now, the Acura ILX had been a bit of a muddled composition. That's because the luxury compact sedan's lineup included a bevy of powertrain options and interior features that could be a bit of a mishmash—not all the options were luxurious or sporty.

For 2016, Acura has essentially rebooted its entry ILX model—dropping the surplus of powertrain variants and focusing this small sedan under one sporty combination, with more of an underlying performance-car flavor throughout.

The underwhelming ILX Hybrid model was dropped going into the 2015 model year. Now for 2016, the 2.0-liter base engine also has been dropped, and the ILX essentially gets the same 2.4-liter inline-4 and dual-clutch setup as Acura’s next-larger model, the front-wheel-drive TLX. The power rating stays the same as the current model, at 201 horsepower, yet the engine is the latest direct-injection unit, making 180 pound-feet of torque (up 10 lb-ft over the previous 2.4-liter). The 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox uses a torque converter for low-speed smoothness, yet its shifts are super-quick during high-performance driving, with rev-matched downshifts and good driver control through steering-wheel shift paddles. While the manual gearbox has been dropped completely from the ILX lineup, and we won’t applaud that, we will say that the dual-clutch transmission is superb and a near-perfect pairing of smoothness and responsiveness in the TLX.

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There are plenty of chassis and tuning changes as well—including upgraded brakes—and what they add up to for 2016 is a stronger-performing, more pleasant-driving sporty sedan.

Visually, there’s not all that much changed. The 2016 Acura ILX gets a slight refresh in front and in back. "Jewel Eye" LED lights have been subbed in, as well as some upgraded interior materials, larger wheels and tires, and improved connectivity features. Stylistically, we’ve found that the ILX has a nice balance between crisp and fluid, edgy and smooth—a more youthful take on a compact luxury car than you'll find elsewhere in the segment, and handsome if not lust-inducing. Inside, it's a pleasant place to travel, looking like a typical Acura: edgy curves, contoured surfaces, and easy-to-read gauges.

The interior layout of the ILX has been stellar all along, so that part didn't need rehab. It’s comfortable and spacious—surprisingly so in the rear seats, with enough room even for taller adults to comfortably fit. Ergonomically, the cabin is laid out very well, and it’s easy to figure out the controls without taking your eyes off the road (well, except for infotainment systems, which remain a sore point). There’s solid-feeling construction throughout, with quality materials, and fit and finish is very good. Acura says that cabin refinement and quietness has been improved for 2016, too, with thicker glass and noise-attenuating wheels; and that’s in addition to the smart active noise cancellation system Acura made standard for the lineup last year.

The ILX remains based on the Honda Civic, although the current Civic has an excellent reputation for safety and occupant protection. The 2016 ILX has earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The ILX gets the excellent LaneWatch system that shows a wide-angle camera view alongside and behind the vehicle, and a new AcuraWatch safety suite includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, and forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking. There’s also a blind-spot monitor with rear traffic alert for much of the lineup.

There are now a total of six 2016 Acura ILX packages, including standard ILX, Premium, Technology Plus, A-Spec, A-Spec Premium, and A-Spec Technology Plus. A-Spec models are the sporty versions in the lineup, and at the Premium level, the ILX gets a two-position driver’s seat memory, plus a power passenger seat, universal garage-door opener, and the dual-screen setup. The Premium grade model has, for the first time, a navigation system based on a connected iPhone, with the proper AcuraLink app, and Premium models and above get satellite radio and HD Radio. Tech models add the AcuraWatch suite plus embedded navigation and a configurable display.

2016 Acura ILX

Styling

The 2016 Acura ILX looks lean and handsome—although it may not quite look, inside and out, the part of a luxury sport sedan.

The 2016 Acura ILX isn’t particularly flashy; and outside of a few up-close details, like its new "Jewel Eye" LED headlamps, there isn’t all that much about it that’s going to turn heads. Yet it’s a particularly handsome, well-proportioned take on the small-sedan form.

Visually, not all that much changed from 2015 to 2016. The 2016 Acura ILX gets a slight refresh in front and in back, and it’s most apparent in front, where those distinctive headlamps have been subbed in. There’s also a new version of the Acura grille—one that actually seems to match part and parcel with the headlamps, in a visually pleasing way—and elsewhere outside some new wheel designs. A new side-mirror design helps keep it graceful from the side, where we still like the ILX’s side-body sculpting.

Inside, you’ll find improved interior materials and some changes at the center of the dash, where connectivity features have been given an upgrade, with the introduction of Acura’s dual-screen infotainment systems to the ILX. It's a pleasant place to travel, looking like a typical Acura: edgy curves, contoured surfaces, and easy-to-read gauges.

We tend to think that it’s the dash styling that lets the 2016 ILX down a bit in its new role as a more focused sporty sedan. The ILX might be better served if there were more color or originality in textures and materials, and the dash manages to feel rather basic in the area just ahead of the passenger, with a spare look to the plastics and vents.

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2016 Acura ILX

Performance

The 2016 Acura ILX is a very nice driving small sport sedan—and it has all the steering, suspension, and brakes to handle what the sharp new powertrain can give it.

For 2016, Acura replaces several models with lackluster performance with a single one that finally does what the ILX should have done in the first place: deliver strong, satisfying performance, in a fuel-efficient, otherwise pleasant-driving sedan.

What that means is that for 2016 the 2.0-liter base engine has been dropped, and the ILX essentially gets the same 2.4-liter inline-4 and dual-clutch setup as Acura’s next-larger model, the front-wheel-drive TLX. The power rating stays the same as the outgoing model, at 201 horsepower, yet the engine is the latest direct-injection unit, making 180 pound-feet of torque (up 10 lb-ft over the previous 2.4-liter).

The former 5-speed automatic has also been dropped (as has the 6-speed manual, sadly), and the 8-speed, dual-clutch gearbox that replaces it is the perfect companion to the new engine; it uses a torque converter for low-speed smoothness, yet its shifts are super-quick during high-performance driving. Click back to the Sport mode, and you get perfectly rev-matched downshifts and good driver control through steering-wheel shift paddles.

Previously, the ILX wasn’t quite as sharp as you might have expected, especially in its top-performance version, and thankfully Acura has made some major improvements in suspension and especially braking and steering feel to improve the driving experience.

All ILX models get new sleeved front lower control-arm bushings, as well as larger rear stabilizer bars and a stiffer front subframe. All versions now also get amplitude-reactive dampers in front, not just in back. Additionally, engineers applied a new control logic to the electric power steering system, and installed larger-diameter brake discs front and rear (ventilated in front).

What this adds up to is a much-improved driving experience—and a driving experience that’s more predictable, linear, and confidence-inspiring than what you’ll likely find from base versions of rival base models from Germany. The steering loads up nicely and is well-weighted, while brake-pedal feel is about the best it gets short of a full-fledged sport sedan. The ILX weighs only about 3,100 pounds—less than the A3, CLA, or any other direct rival—and that lightness carries into the driving experience.

A-Spec models include bigger and wider (18-by-7.5-inch) wheels with very low-profile tires, which tend to exaggerate the tendency of the rear suspension to bring out a little more road harshness and make sharp upward motions during cornering on rough road surfaces. Acura says that the available A-Spec Package allows you to make the most of this revised setup, but we came away from a drive in multiple cars thinking that the non A-Spec cars are the better bet unless you live around very smooth roads.

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2016 Acura ILX

Comfort & Quality

The 2016 Acura ILX has a quiet, composed ride and more usable space than rivals; but its materials and trims aren’t anything above the ordinary.

The 2016 Acura ILX does some impressive things with available space and, in general, provides a lot of comfort, a straightforward interface, and plenty of smaller cabin space to stow personal items. The only thing it’s lacking is a little more gloss and gleam, and the sort of "surprise-and-delight" materials and trims that arguably cause shoppers to fall in love with some luxury-brand models.

The interior layout of the ILX has been stellar all along, so it needed no rehab in terms of functionality. It’s comfortable and spacious—surprisingly so in the rear seats, with enough room even for taller adults to fit comfortably. Ergonomically, things are laid out very well, and it’s easy to figure out the controls without taking your eyes off the road (well, except for infotainment systems, which remain a sore point).

Front seats are supportive and very adjustable for the driver. Although what’s sorely missing is height adjustability for the passenger front seat. Head room is rather tight in front—due to the sunroof housing, which takes up an extra inch or two—while there’s probably a bit more rear head room than you’ll find in most models in this class. Leg room and knee room are quite good in back, too—enough to fit a couple of 6-footers.

There’s solid-feeling construction throughout, with quality materials, and fit and finish is very good. Acura says that cabin refinement and quietness has been improved for 2016, too, with thicker glass and noise-attenuating wheels; and that’s in addition to the smart active noise cancellation system Acura made standard for the lineup last year.

There are thoughtful bins and cubbies everywhere (if you’ve cross-shopped the Audi A3 you’ll understand how frustrating the lack of them can be), as well as very low liftover height. Acura says that the trunk can hold two large suitcases, a large cooler, or even a wheelchair. The rear seat backs are split and can be flipped forward for expanded space.

The ILX is already a surprisingly quiet-riding car; yet as of last year, Acura has made Active Noise Cancellation standard on all models in this lineup. It can actively "mop up" smaller, but bothersome, noises from the powertrain or road, using the sound system's speakers, a cabin microphone, and a sophisticated processing algorithm.

Trunk space itself is even quite decent, with the standard models ranging between 12.3 and 12.4 cubic feet, depending on options.

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2016 Acura ILX

Safety

With a suite of optional active-safety features and an improved structure, the 2016 Acura ILX will likely be one of the safest picks in its class.

The 2016 Acura ILX doesn’t just have all the expected safety features for a small premium sedan, it also now piles on the active-safety features and driving aids.

Crash-test scores have carried over, with the addition of a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. The ILX earned a "Good" score in the IIHS' tough small-overlap frontal crash test, which is still a relative milestone for many sedans. In federal testing by the NHTSA, the ILX has repeated last year's five-star overall rating, with four- and five-star ratings for frontal and side crash protection, respectively.

Used Acura ILX for sale near

2016 Acura ILX

Features

The range of choice is rather narrow compared to other compact luxury sedans; yet the 2016 Acura ILX packs in more features and value than rivals.

Acura doesn’t have anything like the seemingly unlimited, a la carte range of possibilities you’ll find on rival German sedans like the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3. Yet keeping the ILX’s options down to just a handful of packages and upgrades keeps prices down—and greatly improves value.

Base 2016 ILX models include a power moonroof, a power driver’s seat, a multi-view rearview camera, and Bluetooth connectivity. Stepping up to the ILX Premium gets you leather upholstery, a power passenger seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a universal garage-door opener, the dual-screen infotainment setup, satellite radio, blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert. New with the Premium Package there’s Siri Eyes Free compatibility, plus an HDMI port, HD Radio compatibility, and Pandora and Aha internet radio compatibility.

All ILX models include an text-messaging feature that will read incoming texts over the stereo, allowing the driver to reply with one of six factory-preset messages. The ILX also now comes with the so-called SiriusXM Advanced Audio Feature Set, which allows a buffer-based instant replay, as well as enhanced traffic and weather features and something called Tune Mix, which lets users compile a single preset that combines their favorite satellite-radio channels.

At the Tech Plus level Acura adds a navigation system, the upgraded ELS Studio audio system, AcuraLink connectivity, and the full AcuraWatch Plus suite of active-safety features, which include automatic emergency braking systems, and even a lane-keep assist that will steer for short periods to keep within lane markings.

Separately, you can add that AcuraWatch Plus system to the base ILX, while an A-Spec package will add upgraded 18-inch sport wheels, two-texture suede seating surfaces, fog lamps, a decklid spoiler, sport pedals, and other trim extras.

Additionally, ILX models with the Tech Plus Package get the next generation of AcuraLink, which includes real-time traffic info and a feature guide, plus with a subscription, items such as stolen-vehicle tracking, local search, automatic crash notification, remote door locking/unlocking, and concierge services. A mobile app adds some of those features as well.

If you decide to skip the top-trim models, you can still get a navigation system. The Premium grade model offers, for the first time, a navigation system based on a connected iPhone, with the proper AcuraLink app (which costs $60), and Premium models and above get satellite radio and HD Radio. Tech models add the AcuraWatch suite plus embedded navigation and a configurable display.

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8

2016 Acura ILX

Fuel Economy

The ILX Hybrid model’s gone from the lineup, yet the powerful model remaining does surprisingly well in fuel efficiency.

Acura removed the Hybrid and smaller 2.0-liter version of the Acura ILX for 2016, but its fuel economy hasn't dramatically suffered.

My first Acura, and last Honda

Overall Rating

Styling

Performance

Comfort & Quality

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Fuel Economy

Reliability

Acura succeeded in luring in a 30-something young professional looking for his first "luxury" car. But in the process, they destroyed a lifetime of brand loyalty to Honda. This car is that bad (as was the...
Acura succeeded in luring in a 30-something young professional looking for his first "luxury" car. But in the process, they destroyed a lifetime of brand loyalty to Honda. This car is that bad (as was the sales process).

To be fair, it's an okay car to drive, but driving dynamics are the only thing that isn't absolutely awful. The vinyl seats just feel cheap after a few hours, and leave you wishing for some basic cloth seats. The rest of the interior feels and looks no better (if not worse) than what you'd find in a moderately equipped Ford Fiesta, and lacking in many options that ought to be standard. But it's not just the lack of features--it's the lack of quality in the few features it does have. The driver's seat is uncomfortable and unsupportive, especially while turning. The stereo is the worse I've heard in any car since I drove a '98 Civic DX. The other aspects of the infotainment system aren't any better (and often don't even work, like the USB music player).

So don't be fooled into thinking that the Acura badge means anything. It doesn't even carry the same weight as "EX" on a Honda. Just get the Civic. Or WRX, or GTI, etc. Those are the cars it ought to be compared to, not the Lexus or Audi Acura insists it competes with (maybe with the premium package it's a more apt comparison). And compared to those cars, it's not such a good value. It's overpriced and under powered with lackluster steering, and just plain boring. + More »

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October 18, 2015

For 2016 Acura ILX

Good price for a great car

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so far we are really enjoying the ILX. It is slightly different from the TL.

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August 18, 2015

2016 Acura ILX 4-Door Sedan w/Technology Plus/A-SPEC Pkg

My business bought 2 new Ilx showroom floor cars LOVE THEM!

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I love the car so much we had to get 2! Packages were great options for the prices of the cars!

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June 25, 2015

2016 Acura ILX 4-Door Sedan w/Technology Plus Pkg

ILX review

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poor. i was so excited to get this car and having it for only a month I wish I never got it and got the Lexus IS250. The transmission glitches, the car is always shaking and my passengers have complained about...
poor. i was so excited to get this car and having it for only a month I wish I never got it and got the Lexus IS250.

The transmission glitches, the car is always shaking and my passengers have complained about feeling sick. It jerks. It drives like a stick shift. the interior feels cheap, the material is cheap. I felt my honda 2005 was better quality. The leather seats is cheap. I left a bowl on the seat and it left an indentation. Anything leaves marks. I am very disappointed with this car and would NOT recommend it to anyone. I am looking into options to getting another vehicle. + More »

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May 14, 2015

2016 Acura ILX 4-Door Sedan w/Technology Plus Pkg

satisfaction

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i rent from acura brossard the 24 of april 2015,i have done 500km,and i am very satisfied,good car,it is my third acura ,the first one was acura csx 2010 good car,after the ilx 2013 but i think than this one...
i rent from acura brossard the 24 of april 2015,i have done 500km,and i am very satisfied,good car,it is my third acura ,the first one was acura csx 2010 good car,after the ilx 2013 but i think than this one is the best of the acura,i like the performance, good suspension very nice looking. + More »

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May 11, 2015

2016 Acura ILX 4-Door Sedan w/Premium Pkg

Awesoem Acura

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A beautifully styled , appointed and handling vehicle , exceptional in all areas

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April 28, 2015

2016 Acura ILX 4-Door Sedan w/Technology Plus Pkg

Great updated car, with more go power, quieter ride, and much better styling.

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I've owned many cars over the years, including early models of the Acura Integra and the first year the MDX shipped. Since then, when it came time to buy a car I've stayed away as I found Lexus, BMW, Audi, and...
I've owned many cars over the years, including early models of the Acura Integra and the first year the MDX shipped. Since then, when it came time to buy a car I've stayed away as I found Lexus, BMW, Audi, and even Mazda's more appealing. Simply put, I found that while Acuras remained a good value for the dollar with bundled packages with lots of features and technology, they were rather boring looking on the outside. And the original ILX in its first two years was underpowered and not a worthy successor to the original Integra so many years ago.

The mid-life refresh that Acura did with the ILX is pretty amazing. New engine with 51 more horsepower yet better gas milage. New 8 speed automatic that shifts without a bump unlike the Mercedes C-class with 7 speed auto. It's quieter inside, yet the engine has a satisfying rumble when driving, Comparing the ILX with Tech Plus and Tech Plus with A/Spec, the latter looks a little better but the larger wheels deliver a much harsher ride and not what I was looking for.

The electronics are far superior in the car than what I saw from other vendors when you get the Tech Plus package, and that helps cut down the MSRP so that the difference is far better than Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, or BMW in similarly equipped vehicles, if available in them. + More »